The Lay of Marie and Vignettes in Verse

The second work of our poetess consists of a collection of fables, generally called Aesopian, which she translated into French verse. In the prologue she informs her readers tha...

There lived once in Britain a rich old knight, lord of Caerwent, a city situated on the river Duglas. He had married, when far advanced in years, a young wife of high birth, and...

The maid took the child her _mid_,[43] And stole away in an even tide, And passed over a wild heath; Thorough field and thorough wood she _geth_,[44] All the winter-long night....

Versions of only two of the Lays can be given; but it will be better to lay before the reader an abstract of the whole collection, which is in many respects interesting, because...

Of what ambition sought, beguil'd, His crimes thus fruitless! and his child, The beautiful, the rich and young-- Now, in his most triumphant hours! The darling he had nurs'd in...

Eliduc was a knight of Bretagne, much admired for military prowess, courtesy, and political sagacity; in consequence of which, his sovereign, who loved and admired him, was in t...

"'Others might wish their soul's delight Should be most lovely to the sight; And beauty vainly I ador'd, Serv'd with my eye, my tongue, my sword; Nay, let me not from truth depa...

Can one, who by experience knows So much of trial and of woes, Late prone to kindle and to melt, To feel whatever could be felt, To suffer, and without complaint, All anxious ho...

"Sometimes a sudden fancy came, That he who bore my father's name, Broken in spirit and in health, Was weary of ill-gotten wealth. I to the cloister saw him led, Saw the wide co...

To whom,--as Fancy, taking longer flight, With folded arms upon her heart's high swell, Floating the while in circles of delight, And whispering to her wings a sweeter spell Tha...

'Twas on the solemn feast of sainted John, When knights past tale did in the castle won, That, supper done, 'twas will'd they all should fare Forth to the orchard green, awhile...

There lived formerly, at Nantes in Bretagne, a lady of such exquisite beauty that no one could behold her with impunity. All the young men of the town were rivals for her smiles...